Published in Oswald's "Collection of the best old Scotch and English songs...dedicated to Her Royal Highness the Princess Dowager of Wales by James Oswald, Chamber Composer to his Majesty". This is Oswald's arrangement of a (by then) hoary English minor classic. John Barret wrote the tune to a lyric by John Glanvill, c.1705. It appeared in "Pills to purge melancholy", Playford's "Dancing master" and "The Beggar's Opera" ("When he holds up his hand").

Lyrics: John Glanvill

Ianthe the lovely, the joy of her swain,
By Iphis was loved, and loved Iphis again:
She lived in the youth, and the youth in the fair,
Their pleasure was equal, and equal their care.
No time no enjoyment their dotage withdrew,
But the longer they lived still the fonder they grew.

A passion so happy alarmed all the plain,
Some envied the nymph, but more envied the swain;
Some swore 'twould be pity their love to invade,
That the lovers alone for each other were made;
But all have consented that none ever knew
A nymph yet so kind, or a shepherd so true.

Love saw them with pleasure and vowed to take care
Of the faithful, the tender, the innocent pair;
What either did want he bid either to move,
But they wanted nothing but ever to love;
He said 'twas all that to bless them his godhead could do,
That they still should be kind, and they still should be true.